Auron stabbed his fork gingerly into the meat on his plate. He had no appetite. And why should he? His parents were alive only a day ago… he had failed to protect them, and they forfeit their own lives for his. He felt suddenly guilty… It was his fault that they were dead. Had he not been born, or succeeded in his promise to help others, they would still be alive. He was only eight, why should he have been protected? He felt worthless without them. His whole life had meaning only when he brought down a fiend or stood up to a monster. Now, the only beast he would encounter here would be the dead, blackened kind now sitting on his plate. Auron scowled and set his fork down, not bothering to look up.

"Auron, why don't you eat?" Medwin asked.

"I'm not hungry," he said.

"You need your strength."

"For what?" he seethed, his voice rising slightly. "My parents are dead. My village is dead. There is no one left for me to protect. Of what possible service could I be?"

Medwin sighed and placed his crystal wine glass down on the table. Medwin had brought him home for dinner so that he could meet his daughter, Amira, who had said almost nothing the whole night, only staring at Auron in a curious manner that made him extremely uncomfortable. She had long, black hair that was pleated neatly, gems encrusting her golden headband. Her eyes were a frighteningly cold silver that shone brighter than the dinner utensils, and he could feel them burning into him. Auron glanced down the table, scowling. There was nothing but excess in this house… it made Auron sick and homesick at the same time. The tablecloth was of fine, expensive silks imported from an unknown, secluded village somewhere near Macalania, along with the napkins and curtains. Their plates were trimmed with gold, while their wine glasses were of the finest crystal and even some of the serving spoons had gems in their handles. Amira, a girl of only eight, was wearing the same gold and gems and silk, and held herself loftily above the servants here. These things alone were such a drastic change from his peaceful village, enough to make him sick to his stomach, let alone the fact that his parents had died only a day before. He pushed his plate away and examined the floor.

"Auron," Medwin said, a warning tone in his voice, "Be grateful for the hospitality we are showing you."

Amira gave him a haughty glance and Auron frowned back at her.

"You should be thankful," she said airily.

"For what?"

"Food, a roof over your head, good company."

"I don't want any food, the only roof I wish to see now is the one of my home, and nobody in the world could ever replace my parents."

"They're dead, right? Then why are you so angry? Being rude can't bring them back."

Auron stood up, his fists clenched. Medwin stood also, placing his hands on the table and glaring at Auron.

"You will sit, young man!"

Auron gave him a rebellious smirk and immediately bolted out the door.

"AURON! COME BACK HERE!" he yelled, but Auron just ignored him.

He's not my father, no matter how much he resembles him. No one will be… and no one can take my mother's, either… I wish I could see them… Mom… Dad…

He began crying as he ran, the tears flowing back into his long dark hair with the force of the wind. Auron didn't know where he was running, he just knew it was… away. He didn't stop for anyone, not even the people he knocked over or those who screamed curses after him. He ran until his lungs were burning, his legs aching, his stomach turning horribly… he stopped behind a tall, stone building on a secluded street, bending over and gasping for air.

I escaped! Ha! Let's see them find me now!

He sat down, still catching his breath, and looked out over the city. It reminded him of the meadow next to his village, somehow… the way the sun set behind it, turning it into a fiery sea…

"Hello."

Auron nearly jumped out of his skin, leaping up and taking a defensive stance.

"Calm down," said the figure, stepping out from the side of the building. "I'm not going to hurt you."

It was a rather thin, pale boy, with soft dirty blonde hair and deep blue eyes. He was holding his hands up in defense, smiling calmly.

"What do you want?" snuffled Auron, wiping his face.

"I saw you run here," said the boy, "And I heard you crying. I was wondering if you were hurt."

"Well, I'm not, so you can just go away now."

Auron turned away, looking back at the city, which had lost that beautiful orange glow already as the sky turned dark. The boy stepped closer.

"I'm Braska," he said, holding out his hand.

Auron considered it for a moment before turning back to him and shaking it, responding, "I'm Auron."

"Nice to meet you."

He nodded and sat down again in defeat, still rubbing the tears from his bloodshot eyes. Braska sat next to him, sighing.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" he asked.

Auron froze, thinking of the day on the beach with his mother last year with a hurtful pang. He grabbed his chest, hoping to squash it away.

"Are you alright?"

Auron nodded.

"What's wrong? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Auron simply stared at him.

"Why do you care? What do you want from me?"

"I only want to help," he said defensively, hurt.

"So did Medwin, and Amira, but they're…" He fell off, shaking his head. "Who cares? I'm not going back there anyway."

"Medwin? Amira? Are you sure?"

Auron gazed at him.

"Yeah," he snapped.

Braska merely made a disbelieving face, trying to hide it behind a supportive smile. Auron was furious.

"Medwin's a priest… he… he sent my parents away!" he shouted. "He sent them away and now they're dead and there's nothing I can do and nobody cares and I'm all alone!"

He cried again, bringing his face down into his knees. He didn't care if this boy was disgusted or not; why should he? If he ran away, good, he didn't want company anyway. He didn't feel he deserved it. Instead of pulling away, however, Auron felt the boy place a kind hand on his shoulder. He looked up, tears still streaming down his face in strong, thick rivers.

"Was it Sin?" he asked.

Auron's anger suddenly melted away and he nodded slowly.

"One day, someone will defeat Sin. Sometimes, I…" He froze again. "If you are truly living with Priest Medwin, I am not sure you would be wise in talking to me."

"Why not?"

"My parents, they… they were not welcome members of the Temple."

"What did they do?" he asked.

"They were accused of heresy because of their views on the Al-Bhed."

Auron remembered his mother mentioning the Al-Bhed, though did not know much about them. He knew they were excommunicated from Yevon because of their acceptance of machina, but beyond that, he knew nothing.

"Did they not like them?" he asked.

Braska laughed a little.

"On the contrary, my friend, Yevon does not! My parents argued that we should make peace with them, that they are not so different, all they want is freedom from the sacrifice Summoners must go through to defeat Sin."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Auron thought that was a silly reason to excommunicate people, but was smart enough to realize that saying so could get him into some serious trouble. He thought about it for a few seconds.

"My mother, she used to say..." Auron looked around him for a second, making sure all was clear before whispering, "She said Sin always comes back."

Braska gave a sad smile.

"But in what other fashion could we ever hope to defeat Sin? The Al-Bhed are looking for this answer, but until they find it, Summoners must continue to give their life to try and save Spira."

Auron nodded thoughtfully. He could understand this; sacrifice for the sake of others for such a noble cause was something he could relate to. Braska sighed.

"Only do not relate these things to others, you can get into trouble."

Auron shrugged.

"With who? I have no family left, no friends."

"You have Priest Medwin and Amira."

Auron shook his head.

"They are no friends of mine. Their lives are nothing but luxury… what do they know of what I have gone through, or what anyone else has, for that matter?"

Braska gave him an eager shh.

"They are well respected in the Temple. Do not slight them."

"Do you respect them?"

"Yes. Priest Medwin has done much holy work for the temple, and works endlessly to send those who have perished to the Farplane."

"Including my parents," Auron said ruefully.

"Would you rather they had become fiends?"

Auron jumped up angrily.

"Are your parents still alive?" he shouted.

Braska gave him an apologetic look.

"Yes, they are, and I'm sorry, but there was nothing he could have done to bring them back. Better that they find peace than roam the world as fiends, hurting others."

Auron calmed down. His worst possible fear – his parents, or himself, hurting others – had been averted by this priest. Auron still did not trust him, however, but decided to keep this to himself. Braska stood up, dusting himself off.

"I don't wish to worry my par…" He halted, thinking for a second. "It's best that I go home, now. You should go back, too."

"I guess so," he said.

"And Auron?"

"Yes?"

"I hope to see you again soon, friend!"

And he ran off, leaving Auron alone with just one word:

Friend.